MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief, Army General Anatoly Kornukov, has reaffirmed carry out orders of the Supreme Commander in keeping with its function."
"The Air Force has maintained the level of preparation reached in 2000 and made progress in several areas," Kornukov told Interfax on Friday.
"Despite the acknowledged economic difficulties, we've conducted around 400 operational and combat readiness exercises. Different staff reforms took place in over 150 units and formations," he said.
Over 30 maneuvers involved warplanes, he said. "Bomber and fighter regiments conducted about 200 combat exercises. Long- range aviation successfully launched about 10 air-based cruise missiles," he said.
"In 2001, anti-aircraft forces located and tracked over 150,000 air targets including more than 4,000 spy planes," he said.
Last year, eight crashes and emergencies occurred in the Air Force. "A total of 11 people died and 8 aircraft were lost," he said.
When asked about this year's objectives, Kornukov replied that the Air Force would focus on improving its structure and combat composition, boosting operational and combat capabilities of the aviation and anti-aircraft equipment, upgrading weaponry and further developing new military hardware.